News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-12-15
BATTLING WITH A SEA MONSTER.
A Finback Whale Kills Three Of the
Crew of a Whaling Steamer.
[From the Boston Globe.1

Crew of Whaling Steamer.
from the Boston GlObel
The whaling steamer Lizzie n, Capt.
West, which has been engaging in the
finback whale fishery on the Eastern
coast this season, on Oct. 6, when about
fifteen miles east-southeast from Sequin
Island, off the coast of Maine, saw
large, lone whale of that species, and
attempted its capture. A boat was low
cred and manned with Capt. West, his
mate, and four seamen. Capt. West,
with a large heavy whale gun, i'll which
was an explosive bomb lance, took the
breach of the boat, while the mate steer
ed. Upon approaching the whale it was
seen that he would be an ugly customer
to deal with, as he showed no inclination
TO run, but kept slowly milling around,
evidently waiting to be attacked.
When the boat was near enough to
warrant shot, Capt. West fired the
gun, but as the sea was rough the motion
of the boat destroyed the accuracy OF the
aim. The whale was badly wounded,
but not in any vital part. The whale
then made for the boat, and in passing
under it struck it with its fukes, throw
ing it some thirty feet into the air, with
its crew, throwing the men out. AS the
boat descended the whale again struck
it with his tail and completed y demOlish-
ed the boat, killing one of the crew, ia
cob Klock, cutting him completely in
two. The whale then commenced to
bite and strike with his tail the pieces of
the boat, killing two more men, Neil
Olsen and Chris johnson, who were sup
porting themselves on pieces of the
wreck.
While the whale was engaged in de-
stroying the boat, Capt. West, the mate
and one man fortunately secured an oar
apiece and swan away from the place.
On board the steamer the mishap was
seen. Another boat4swa lowered, and
the three men picked up and taken on
board, much exhausted. Nothing daunt-
ed, Capt. West resolved upon capturing
the fish. Everything was got in readi-
ness; two guns were loaded, each with
the explosive lance, Capt. West taking
one and his mate the other, and, taking
their positions on the bow of the steam
er, word was given to go ahead. The
whale in the mean time was lying still
among the debris Of the wrecked boat,
occasionally throwing his fiukes into the
air.
As the ship neared the monster, he
left the wrecked boat and made for the
steamer, with the evident intention of
striking her on the port bow. By quick
turn of the rudder the steamer cleared
him by few feet, but with no chance
for q shot.
The whale then turned and again
10 hn cEa II
from the windward for about midships
of the vessel. Capt. West saw that the
whale evidently intended to breach on
to the vessel, and word was given to go
ahead at full speed. AS the whale reared
little steamer sprung ahead, and the
whale fell into the water with terrific
noise, and Just cleared the steamers
stern by a few feet. When the whale
struck the water it made such a heavy
swell that the men were unable to stand
on the deck. Seeing that it was impos-
sible to get shot at the monster with
out great risk to the steamer and crew,
another plan was resorted to. A large,
strong watel cask, holding about $50
gallons, was emptied of its contents and
then bunged tightly. The steamer was
once more headed for the fighter, and
as she approached him he again came to
the attack. The cask was thrown over
board to attract his attention and the
vessel rctreated to safe distance. The
! whale instantly went for the cask,
throwing it high in the air with his
fiukes, but such was its strength and
buoyancy no damage was done to it.
After several futile attempts to smash
the cask with his fukes, he commenced
to swim slowly around it, occasionally
striking it with his head and trying to
bite it, evidently forgetful of the ship
which was watching his every move
ment closely.
This was Capt. Vests chance, and 81
lently but swiftly the little steamer
ssIidGI up boIiI1d hiIlas.ut a short dist
ance from his tail, and before he was
aware of its approach he received the
contents of both of the whale guns, the
bomb lances exploding i'll his lungs.
The steamer sheered off to a place of
safety, the whale forged ahead about
100 yards and commenced to break and
lash the sea into foam in its frenzy and
dying struggles, throwing high in the air
large quantities of blood, showing that
he had received his death wound. After
about five minutes struggling he COM
menced to slowly mill around, and
finally, giving one last breach into the
air, came down on his side dead.
The steamer then went alongside and
fastened to him with harpoons, and with
strong ropes and chains secured him to
the vessel, by which means he was
towed into the harbOr, where crowds
collected to see the monster and con-
oratulote Cant West on his skill and
daring in capturing the whale, this be-
place.
The whale is upward of sixty feet in
length, and would probably weigh when
captured between seventy and eighty
tons. It is one of the largest of that
species ever captured, and would yield
about thirty barrels of oil.